Wire connector



Dec. 23, 1941. .A. o. HAVERSAT 2,267,523

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 23, 1941;:

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. o. HAVERSIAT I 2,267,523

taken on the line 9-9 Patented Dec. 23, 1941 WIRE CONNECTOR Arthur 0. Haversat, Naugatuck, Conn.)

to Chase Brass & Copper 00. Conn., a corporation Waterbury,

assignor Incorporated,

Application January it, 1941, Serial No. 374,961

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in wire-connectors and more particularly to improvements in wire-connectors adapted for the connection of electric wires though not so limited.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior wire-connector which may be produced at a low cost for manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior wire-connector embodying a clamping-nut and in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to automatically resist the loosening of the said clamping-nut when the same has been tightened to connect two wires.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior wire-connector which may be utilized to connect a branch-wire to a line-wire without requiring the disassembly of the nutmember from the body-structure.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of wire-connector embodying the present inventidn as installed upon a line-wire and serving to connect a branch-wire thereto;

Fig. '2 is a view in side elevation of the assem bly shown in Fig. 1; v Fig. 3 is an underside view thereofr Fig.4 is a transverse sectionalview taken the line-4-4 of Fig. 2-;

Fig. 5 isa central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2,-but on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the group of four parts from which the complete wire-connector of the preceding figures may be constituted;

Fig. 8 is a view in central-longitudinal section of the same character as Fig. 5, save that a modified form of wire-connector embodying the present invention is shown; Y

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the clampingshoe of the structure of Figs. 8 and 9.

The structure of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive The particular wire-connector shown in 1 to 7 inclusive, includes a two-part body composed of two similar body-members respectively generally designated by the reference characters' l5 and it. Each of the said body-members is substantially semicircular in cross section, so that the respective inner faces thereof are flat, save that each is provided with a central longitudinal guide-rib l1 extending from the lower end of each body-member upwardly about halfway of thelength thereof, as is shown particu- Larly well in Fig. 7.

Each of the body-members l5 and [6 above referred to, includes arelatively-large head I! at its upper end and a relatively-slender stem l9 formed integral with and depending from the said head. On its outer face, each of the body- 'members I5 and I6 is formed at the junction of its head l8 and its stem IS with a downwardlyfacing limiting-shoulder 20.

Extending through the head l8 of each of the body-members l5 and I6 from the inner to the outer face thereof is a branch-wire passage 2|. The outer surface of the stem IQ of each of the said body-members l5 and I 6 is formed with screw-threads 22 adapted to interfit with screwthreads 23 formed interiorly of a clamping nut 24.

interposed between the flat inner faces of the body-members l5 and I6 is aspacer or clampingshoe generally designated by the reference character 25 and including a head 26 and an integral depending shank 27. Extending lengthwise of the upper surface of the head 26 of the clampingshoe 25 is a concave or V-shaped groove 28, as is shown particularly well in Fig. 7.

At each of its opposite ends the head 26 of the clamping-shoe 25 extends beyond the adjacent end-walls of the shank 21 and thus provides at each of the respective opposite ends of the clamping-shoe a downwardly-facingshoulder 29 resting upon the upper face of the clamping-nut 2|. Formed centrally in each of the respective on each of its respective opposite sides to provide limiting-fingers 3l-3l having inclined upper surfaces, as is shown particularly well in Fig. 6, and adapted to have wedging engagement respectively with inclined limiting-surfaces 32-32 respectively formed on the lower inner corners of the body-members l5 and i6.

After the body-members l5 and IS, the clamping-shoe 25 and clamping-nut 24 have been assembled as described, it is preferred that the lowermost threads on the said body-members be upset as at 33 to thereby prevent the accidental disassembly of the elements. The upsetting of the threads as at 33-33 create, in effect, a stopabutment limiting the relative downward movement of the clamping-nut 24 relative to the bodymembers l5 and I6.

When the elements are all assembled, the bodymembers l5 and iii are held in spaced relationship by the clamping-shoe or spacer 25, so that the threads upon the respective outer faces of the stems l9-l9 of the said body-members are held in engagement with the threads 23 in the interior of the clamping-nut 24. As thus positioned in spaced relationship, the body-members I5 and I6 provide between them, at a location above the clamping-shoe 25,,a notchrlike line-wire passage adapted to receive a line-wire such as 34. The assembled device may be slipped laterally over the said line-wire 34 while the clamping-nut 24 is retired slightly downwardly beyond its normal clamping position, and afterward a branch-wire such as 35 may be inserted through the respective and aligned branch-wire passages 2!, as is especially well shown in Fig. 1. The clamping-nut 24 may now be threaded upwardly toward the respective heads l8l8 of the body-members I5 and I6 to carry the clampingshoe 25 with it until the line-wire 34 resting in the groove 28 in the upper surface of the said shoe has had its upper face tightly impinged against the under face of the transversely-extending branch-wire 35. Under these conditions, the branch-wire 35 acts as a key to prevent the wire-connector as a whole from becoming separated from the line-wire 34.

Preferably, the parts are so proportioned that when the line-wire 34 and the branch-wire 35 have been brought into tight electrical and mechanical engagement, the limiting-fingers 3l-3i of the clamping-shoe 25 will have been brought into wedging engagement with the inclined limiting-surfaces 3232 of the respective bodymembers 15 and I6.

Due mainly to the fact that the body-members l5 and 15 are separate and distinct elements capable of movement relative to each other, the tightening of the clamping-nut 24 as above described, will not only effect the tight mechanical and electrical inter-engagement of the line-wire 34 and the branch-wire 35, but the tendency of the upper or head-ends l8|8 of the said members to spread slightly under the clamping strain, will in turn so tightly grip the clamping-nut 24 as to render the same substantially immune to becoming loosened by vibrations almost incessantly. occurring in suspended electrical conductors. Furthermore, the wedging engagement between the inclined limiting-fingers 3l-3l of the clamping-shoe 25 with the limiting-surfaces 32-32 of the respective bodymembers I; and I3, will furth'er tend to spread the lower end of the said body-members to a degree sufficient to assist in maintaining the clamping-nut 24 against becoming loosened.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is possible to connect two wires such as the wires 34 and 35 without requiring the demounting of the clamping-nut 24 or its equivalent from the assembly. Under these conditions, the wire extending through the branch-wire passages 2i-2i of the respective body-members l5 and it acts as a key which prior to its insertion in no way interferes with the fitting of the wireconnector over a continuous line-wire such as 34. On the other hand, however, after the insertion of the branch-wire 35, the line-wire 34 is no longer free for demounting from the wireconnector and vice versa.

The structure of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is shown a wire-connector comprising two body-members 36 and 31, each having a lower theraded portion 33. The lower respective threaded portions 38 of the bodymembers 36 and 31 fit within a cup-shaped clamping-nut 39 and like the body-members l5 and I6 before described, each of the body-members 36 and 31 is formed in its upper end with a transverse branch-wire passage 40.

Interposed between the body-members 35 and 31 above referred to, is a spacer 41 having a head 42 and a cylindrically-contoured depending-shank 43 formed integral therewith. The said shank 43 rests upon the upper surface of the end wall of the clamping-nut 39 and is provided centrally with a relatively-slender stem 44 extending downwardly through the said end wall and upset at its lower end as at 45 to retain the members 39 and 4| in assembled relationship.

Thespaced-apart body-members 36 and 31 provide between them a notch-like passage in which may be located a line-wire 46 and across which may extend a branch-wire 41 accommodated in the branch-wire passages 40-40 before described.

When the clamping-nut 39 is tightened, the upper edge of the said clamping-nut and the spacer 4| will be forced against the line-wire 46, which latter, in turn, will be forced against the branch-wire 48 to thereby serve to both electrically'and mechanically interconnect the two said wires.

Both of the forms of the present invention herein chosen for illustration, possess the same fundamental advantages and, as may be noted by reference to Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9, the given branch-wire may be engaged with its complemental line-wire so tightly as to cause each thereof to more or less deform and indent the other.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A wire-connector including in combination: two complemental physically-distinct bodymembers arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception of a linewire and of a spacer, each of the said body-members being formed with an outwardly-facing threaded portion and each thereof being formed .and arranged to be moved thereby toward the bers arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception of a line-wire and 01a spacer, each of the said body-members being formed with an outwardly-facing threaded portion and each thereof being formed with a branch-wire passage extending in a direction crosswise oi the passage between the two said body-members and intersecting the said passage; a clamping-nut eng ing with and embrac- 4 ing the respective threaded portions or the two said body-members; and a clamping-shoe engaged by the said clamping-nut and constructed branch-wire passages respectively formed in the said body-members.

i 3. A wire-connector including in combination: two complemental physically-distinct bodymembers arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception of a line-wire and 01 a spacer, each of the said bodymembers being, formed with a relatively-Jarge' head-portion and with a. relatively-slender stemportion provided with outwardly-facing threads. each 01' the said body-members being formed in its head-portion with a branch-wire passage extending in a direction crosswise oi'the passage between the two said body-members and intersecting the said passage; a clamping-nut engaging with and embracing the respective threaded stems oi the two said body-members; and a spacer interposed between the two said bodymembers to hold the respective threaded stemportions thereof in engagement with the said clamping-nut.

4. A wire-connector including in combination: two complements! physically-distinct body-members arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception or a line-wire and of a spacer, each oi the said body-members being formed with a relatively-large head-portion and a relativeb-slender stem-portion provided with outwardly-facing threads, each of the said bodymembers being formed in its head-portion with a branch-wire passage extending in a direction crosswise of the passage. between the two said body-members and intersecting the said passage; a clamping-nut engaging with and embracing the respective threaded stems of the two said bodymembers; and a clamping-shoe engaged by the said clamping-nut and constructed and arranged to be moved thereby toward the branch-wire passages respectively formed in the head-portions of the two said body-members.

5. A wire-connector including in combination: two complemental physically-distinct body-members arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception of a line-wire and of a spacer. each of the said body-members being formed with a threaded portion or substantiallysemicircular form in cross section with the threads thereon facing away from the threads of the other of said body-members, each of the said body-members also being formed with a branch-wire passage extending in a direction crosswise oi the e between the two said body-members and intersecting the said passage therebetween; a clamping-nut embracing and engaging with the respective threaded portions 01 the two said body-members: and a spacer interposed between the threaded portions of the two said body-members to hold the same in engagement with the said clamping-nut.

6. A wire-connector including in combination: two complemental physically-distinct body members arranged side by side in spaced relationship with respect to each other to provide a passage therebetween for the reception of a line-wire and of a spacer, each or the said body-members being formed with an outwardly-iacing threaded portion and each thereof being formed with a branch-wire passage extending in a direction crosswise oi the passage between the two said body-members and intersecting the said passage; a clamping-nut eng ing with and embracing the respective threaded portions of the two said body-members: and a clamping-shoe engaged by the said clamping-nut and constructed and arranged to be moved thereby toward the branch-wire passages respectively formed in the said body-members, the said clamping-shoe also being provided with a wedging-portion engaging with one oi the said body-members to force the same away from its complements! body-member when the said clamping-shoe is moved by the said clamping-nut toward the branch-wire passages in the said body-members.

ARTHUR O. HAVERSAT. 

